Knitting machine



Oct. 10, 1939. H. AGULNEK KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5. 1938 lNV ENTOR HarryA ulna/s ATTORNEY 20 interrupted feed of the selected yarn.

Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE Application October 3,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines adapted to manufacture fabric containing vertical stripes, and particularly to circular open top machines having a hollow needle-retaining cylinder operatively associated with the usual yarn-feeding and needle-actuating elements.

In conventional methods of knitting with most machines of this category, a revolving yarn stand is arranged to feed a plurality of yarns to a corresponding number of feed stations on a stationary cylinder, and by means of various types of needle-actuating mechanisms knitted cloth of certain predetermined designs can be fabricated. Should it be desired, however, to produce vertical stripes, the needle-actuating means must be so arranged as to operatively knit a selected color at predetermined intervals, causing substantially long invisible floats to be formed due to the inherent necessity of having a continuous and un- It is known that such floats might be eliminated by employing certain wrap-around devices similar to those employed in the manufacture of stockings, such devices being intermittently actuated in cooperation with anexteriorly disposed auxiliary yarn stand containing the selected striping yarn cones. Due to the dimensional and structural complexities of circular open top knitting machines, such wrap-around devices have generally not been considered conveniently-adaptable therefor, particularly in view of the fact that there would of necessity have to be two independent yarn stands positioned about the cylinder, with either one or both stands revolving during the operation of the machine, and of such large proportions and revolving at such speeds as to render the machine highly dangerous to.opera-'- tors and exceedingly difficult to construct. It is, hence, primarily within the contemplation of my invention to provide a knitting machine of the aforesaid type with relatively simple means for enabling vertical stripes to be produced during the manufacture of knitted fabrics, without the presence of connecting floats, and whereby the various disadvantages and shortcomings above set forth are obviated.

It is a further object of my invention to enable a circular knitting machine of the open top variety to conveniently produce various types of striped fabric including plaided effects.

It is also within the contemplation of this invention to provide a machine for accomplishing the aforesaid functions wherein the vertical striping yarn cones are supported by a stand positioned within the central interior of the 1938, Serial No. 232,964

(01. se 1s5 needle cylinder and in fixed relation with respect thereto, and so disposed as to be in proper operative position with respect to the cylinder needles whereby one or more of a selected number of yarn strands may be operatively fed to a plurality of stations about the cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to provide stretcher or spreader means for the tubular fabric made on knitting machines which may be adapted to cooperate with means for holding the striping yarn stand in fixed position with respect to the cylinder.

And it is still a further object of this invention to provide a simple wrap-around device whereby the yarn operatively associated therewith will be kept closely confined therein and consequently free from the danger of entanglement with other proximate machine parts.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical fragmentary section of a circular open top independent latch needle knitting machine with a stationary cylinder and containing my invention, including a semi-diagrammatic representation of a portion of the fabricated cloth.

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 taken along line 22 showing the wrap-around actuating means.

Figure 3 is a part sectional plan of Figure 1 taken along line 33, showing the position of a portion of the tubular fabric upon the stretcher and within the bifurcated terminal of certain of the striping yarn stand holding means.

, Figure 4 Ban enlarged longitudinal cross-section of the wrap-around device forming part of my invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan of Figure 1 taken along line 55, and

Figure 6 illustrates a portion of knitted fabric of plaided effect produced by the machine constituting my invention.

In the drawing, the knitting machine illustrated is of conventional structure comprising a stationary cylinder l0 containing a plurality of independent vertically movable latch needles ll adapted to be operatively actuated by elevating and depressing mechanisms (not shown on the drawing inasmuch as they are well known in the art) operatively mounted upon cam blocks l2 which are positioned upon the rotatable cam ring l3, this ring being in operative engagement with the gear l4 connected to suitable driving means not shown. Suitably mounted upon said cam ring l3, and attached thereto are the vertical columns Ma which support the revolving main yarn stand l5 containing thereon the yarn cones I8. The stationary cylinder construction shown in the drawing has been chosen for illustrative purposes, it being understood that a revolving cylinder type of structure may be similarly adapted for use with my invention.

Extending through the central portion of the said yarn stand l5 and through the hollow boss ll thereof is a central supporting post l8, said post being held in suspended position from the yarn stand l5 by suitable fastening means illustrated in the drawing as the set screw I3. The lower portion of the post l8 contains a collar 20 shown secured in place by the set screw 2|, the fabric spreader or stretcher 22 being suspended from the post through the medium of said collar 28. Specifically, the said stretcher in the form shown preferably contains two arms 23 and 24 diverging downwardly and joined at their upper portions by the bridge 25 containing centrally thereof the hollow hub 28 through which the post l8 extends. The said stretcher 22 contains the props 21 in supporting engagement with and secured to the auxiliary stationary yarn stand 28 operatively supporting the striping yarn cones 29. In the structure illustrated, the wrap-around carrier platform 30 is supported by the hollow sleeve 3| extending upwardly from platform 28 and surmounted over the post l8.

The said platform 30 has mounted thereupon and suitably secured thereto a plurality of wraparound devices 32, the number of such devices being dependent upon the number and spacing of the vertical stripes to be formed on the knitted fabric, there being one such device for each of cones 29 in operative use. Each of said devices contains a mounting block 33 suitably secured to platform 30 by fastening means 34, a portion 35 of said block being angularly disposed with respect to-the vertical axis of cylinder l8, and another portion 38 thereof being preferably at right angles to portion 35. Suitably secured to said portion 35 is a stationary collar or bearing 31 within which is rotatively positioned the hollow shaft 38 the upper end of which has secured thereto a pinion 39 and the other end the arm 48, whereby upon a rotatable manipulation of pinion 39 said shaft 38 and arm 40 will be corres'pondingly rotatably actuated. Attached to arm 40 at a point remote from the axis of shaft 38' is a hollow wrap-around finger ll preferably consisting of a portion 42 substantially parallel with the axis of shaft 38, and a portion 43 inclined with respect thereto, the wall of said finger ll containing an aperture 44 disposed towards shaft 38 and communicating with the hollow interior of finger 4|. It is thus apparent that said finger 4| is eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of shaft 38, so that for every revolution of said shaft there will be a revolution of the finger carrying with it the yarn U to be operatively wrapped around the needle H in a manner to be more specifically hereinafter set forth. In the structure illustrated, the said am 40 is secured to shaft 38 by means of the set screw 48 and the finger 4| is secured to the arm 48 by the set screw 41.

The portion 38 of the block 33 serves as a bearing for the shaft 48 which carries at one terminal thereof the bevel gear "in operative engagement with pinion 38, and at the other terminal thereof the disc 50 containing thereon three pins, 5|, 52 and 53 (see Figures 1 and 2). Positioned adjacent the said disc 58 of each of the wrap-around devices is the actuator 54 adapted to intercept and operatively engage in succession each of the said pins 5|, 52 and 53, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

The conventional structure of knitting machine illustrated contains a plurality of sinkers 55 circumferentially positioned about the cylinder, and supported by a sinker ring 58 and operatively actuated by a sinker cam ring 51 in a manner well known in the art. Positioned above the member 51 isa mounting 58 secured to the column I by means of the collared holding means 59. It is thus apparent that the mounting 58 is rotatable about the cylinder of the machine with the rotation of the cam ring l3 and the yarn stand 50. Each of the actuators 54 is attached by bolt means 88 to the mounting 58, so that the actuators are obviously rotatable with the rotating elements aforesaid.

The lower portions of the stretcher arms 23 and 24 are positioned, respectively, within the forked members 62 and 53, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 3, said forked members being suitably attached to some suitable stationary portion of the machine, such as the framework 64, although it is understood that attachment can be effectuatedto some other suitable stationary portion. Positioned below the forked members 82 and 83 are the two rollers 85 (only one being shown) between which the tubular fabric 88 passes during the rotation of the rollers actuated by the suitably driven pulley 81.

Attached to the cylinder 10 by suitable securing means such as the studs 15 is the holding member 18 containing therein a vertical slot 11; and extending into the slot is the arm 18 forming part of the clamp 18 secured through the medium of the bolt means 88 to the prop 21. In this manher the spreader structure together with the platforms 28 and 30 are held in fixed relation with respect to the cylinder, supplementing the effect of members 82 and 83. It is understood, however, that the holding member 18 and associated parts can serve to adequately hold the platforms 28 and 30 in the desired fixed relation to the cylinder without the aid of the said members 82 and 83 if so desired.

In considering the operation of this device, note should be taken that the main yarns a extending from the cones l8 pass through yam guides 8| to be operatively fed to the needles in well known manner. This feed continues uninterruptedly through the knitting operation, the striping loops being formed by the wrap-around devices at selected intervals without interfering with the knitting of main yarn strands a. During the rotation of the cam ring l3 and associated parts, each actuator 54 will come into engagement with one of the pins on disc 50 to cause a rotation of said disc until the actuator has cleared the pins engagedthereby. For example, referring to Figure ,2, if the actuator 54 travels in the direction of the arrow it will engage the pin 53 to produce a counter-clockwise rotation of disc 50 until the pin 53 is substantially in the position of pin 52. With the arrangement of three pins as indicated, it is thus apparent that when ever the actuator passes a disc, it will cause the rotation thereof of one-third of a complete revolution. In the apparatus illustrated, the pinion 38 is one-third of the diameter of gear 48 producing a geared ratio of one to three, so that for every one-third of a revolution of disc 50, there is a complete revolution of pinion 38, thereby causing a corresponding complete revolution of arm 40 and finger 41.

By referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the position of the finger diametrically opposite to the normal position is represented by broken lines, the figure showing the two extreme positions of the finger 4| during one complete revolution. It will be observed that if a line cc is drawn through the terminals of the finger at the extreme positions illustrated, it will intersect the shank of the adjacent needle underneath the hook thereof. Thus, any yarn extending from the lowermost extremity of finger 4| will be carried, during its operative rotation, around the top portion of the needle underneath the hook, and

' upon the return of the finger 4| to its original position, striping yarn b will form a loop operatively wrapped around the needle II. If this operation is repeated once during every revolution of the cam ring l3, there will obviously be one vertical stripe for each such revolution. By using two actuators 54, the number of vertical stripes will be doubled; and so in this manner any number of vertical stripes can be obtained, within the dimensional limitations of the machine, by employing a corresponding number of actuators 54, wrap-around devices and yarn cones.

It will be noted that the striping yarn b extends upwardly from cone 29 through tubular guide 68 and then through hollow shaft 38, leaving the terminal 69 thereof to enter the hollow interior of portion 43 and finger 4| through aperture 44; and then, from the lower terminal of the finger the yarn is fed to the selected needle or needles as aforesaid. It will thus be seen that the portion of yarn b extending through the wrap-around device is confined, almost throughout the entire length thereof, within theinterior of the device, thereby providing a positive and convenient guiding means for the arm without the danger of outside entanglement.

It is of course important that the wrap-around device 32 be located in proper operative position with respect to the needles, and this can obviously be readily accomplished by raising or lowering the position of post l8 with respect to stand [5, thereby controlling the position of the stretcher 22 and consequently of platforms 28 and 30. It is also apparent that the position of the stretcher 22 can readily be varied with respect to post l8 by securing the collar 20 to the post at any desired position, this being another way of adjusting the platforms 28 and 30 in proper operative position.

It is also of utmost importance that the auxillary yarn stand 28 and wrap-around stand 36 be kept in fixed relation with respect to the cylinder; and where the cylinder is stationary, as in the illustrated structure, said stands must also be stationary. This is very readily accomplished by means of holding member 16 and associated parts, and also .by the members 62 and 63 containing bifurcated terminals 10 and II respectively, as previously set forth. Inasmuch as these members are afiixed to a stationary part of the machine, the stretcher 22, and consequently the platforms 28 and 30. are held in a fixed position with respect to the cylinder. At the same time, the fabricated cloth 66 extending downwardly from the cylinder in tubular form is permitted to pass over the arms 23 and 24 of the spreader and between the said bifurcated terminals 10 and H to the rollers 65.

Figure 6 shows apiece of finished knitted fab-- 'ric containing vertical stripes 72 formed by the wrap-around 'method above described, these stripes being independent and not connected by floats. The horizontal stripe 13, however, can be} formed by conventional methods by the yarn a fed from cones IS. The combination of vertical and horizontal stripes, and different colored body portions, produces a plaid effect which has heretofore only been found in loom cloths.

It is further apparent that any standard knitting machine of the above class having an opentop cylinder can be readily provided with this invention which avails itself of the central space within the cylinder which normally is not otherwise utilized. Inasmuch as the platforms 28 and 30 can be stationary and are positioned within the machine, they do not complicate the structure and cannot possibly constitute a source of interference with the rotating cones l6, and being remote from the operators cannot constitute a source of. danger to them.

It is of course understood that the structure above described and shown in the drawing is illustrative of my invention and not employed by way of limitation, inasmuch as numerous about the cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said comes into operative engagement with the needles, an inner stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said inner stand and adapted to operatively bring, the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said feeding means constituting wraparound devices each comprising a rotatably mounted finger, yarn guiding means associated therewith for operatively engaging and directing ,the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cone to an adjacent needle, the finger being rotatable about said adjacent needle to operatively wrap the yarn thereabout, and means for rotatably actuating the finger at predetermined times.

2. In a ircular open top knitting machine, an open-ended needle cylinder. 2. stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said stand and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said feeding means constituting wrap-around devices each comprising a rotatably mounted finger positioned in operative relation to a selected needle on the cylinder and disposed inwardly therefrom towards the vertical axis of the cylinder, the axis of rotation of the finger being inclined with respect to the axis of the cylinder, guiding means associated with the finger for operatively engag ing and directing the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cone to said selected needle. the finger being rotatable about said adjacent need e to operatively wrap the yarn thereabout, and 'means for rotatably actuating the finger at predetermined times.

3. In a circular open top knitting machine, an open ended needle cylinder, an outer stand positioned exteriorly of the cylinder for opera tively holding body yarn cones in predetermined positions with respect to selected feeding stations about the cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said cones into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, an inner stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said inner stand and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said outer stand being positioned above the cylinder and being provided with a central post secured thereto and extending downwardly axially of the cylinder, and supporting means carried by the post and holding 'the said inner stand at a predetermined level within the cylinder.

4. In a-circular open top knitting machine, an open ended needle cylinder, an outer stand positioned exteriorly of the cylinder for operatively holding body yarn cones in predetermined positions with respect to selected feeding stations about the cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said cones into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, an inner stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said inner stand and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said outer stand being positioned above the cylinder and being provided with a central post'secured thereto and extending downwardly axially of the cylinder, supporting means carried by the post and holding the said inner stand at a predetermined level within the cylinder, and holding means secured to the machine and in operative engagement with said supporting means for holding said latter means and the parts carried thereby against movement with respect to the cylinder.

5. In a circular open top knitting machine, an open ended needle cylinder, an outer stand positioned exteriorly of the cylinder for operatively holding body yarn cones in predetermined positions with respect to selected feeding stations about the'cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said cones into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, an inner stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said inner stand and adapted tooperatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said outer stand being positioned above the cylinder and being provided with a central post secured thereto and extend ing downwardly axially of the cylinder, supporting means carried by the post and containing vertical props supporting the said inner stand at a predetermined level within the cylinder, and holding means in operative engagement with said props for holding them and the parts carried thereby against movement with respect to the cylinder.

6. In a circular open top knitting machine, an open ended needle cylinder, an outer stand positioned exteriorly of the cylinder for operatively holding body yarn cones in predetermined positions with respect to selected feeding stations about the cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said cones into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, an inner stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said inner stand and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yam cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said outer stand being positioned above the cylinder and being provided with a central post secured thereto and extending downwardly axially of the cylinder, supporting means carried by the post and containing vertical props supporting the said inner stand at a predetermined level within the cylinder, and holding means in operative engagement with said props for holding them and the parts carried thereby against movement with respect to the cylinder, the said holding means having a stationary member afiixed to the inner wall of the cylinder and in interlocking engagement therewith a complementary element attached to one of said props. 7. In a circular open top knitting machine, an open ended needle cylinder, an outer stand positioned exteriorly of the cylinder for operatively holding body yarn cones in predetermined positions with respect to selected feeding stations about the cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said cones into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, an inner stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said inner stand and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said outer stand being positioned above the cylinder and being provided with a central post secured thereto and extending downwardly axially of the cylinder, and supporting means carried by the post and holding the said inner stand at a predetermined level within the cylinder, said supporting means containing downwardly extending spreader arms for operatively receiving thereover the tubular fabric knitted on the machine and extending downwardly from the cylinder.

8. In a circular open top knitting machine, an open ended needle cylinder, an outer stand positioned exteriorly of the cylinder for operatively holding body yarn cones in predetermined. positions with respect to selected. feeding stations about the cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said cones into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, an inner stand within the cylinder forcperatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, and feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said inner stand and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the correspondingstriping yarn cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles tioned above the cylinder and being provided with a central post secured thereto and extending downwardly axially'of the cylinder, and supporting means carried by the post and holding the said inner stand at a predetermined level within the cylinder, said supporting means containing downwardly extending spreader arms for operatively receiving thereover the tubular fabric knitted on the machine and extending downwardly from the cylinder, and bifurcated holding means attached to and extending inwardly from the framework of the machine and engaging one of said spreader arms to .hold the said supporting means against movement from its operative position.

9. In a circular open top knitting machine, a stationary open-ended needle cylinder, a rotatable outer stand positioned exteriorly of the cylinder for operatively holding a plurality of both yarn cones in predetermined positions with respect to selected feeding stations about the cylinder, means for selectively bringing the yarn from said cones into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, a stationary inner stand within the cylinder for operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, a stationary platform inspaced relation to said inner stand, feeding means mounted on the platform and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said inner stand into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, the said outer stand being positioned above the cylinder, a central post keyed to the outer stand so as to revolve therewith and extending downwardly axially of the cylinder, and stationary supporting means carried by the post and in supporting engagement with said inner stand and platform.

10. In combination with a circular open top knitting machine, a wrap-around device for forming vertical stripes in the fabric being knitted on the machine, comprising a hollow shaft inclined with respect to the cylinder, a mounting on the cylinder, the said outer stand being posifor rotatably supporting said shaft, an arm affixed to the shaft, a hollow finger attached to the arm eccentrlcally with respect to the axis of the shaft whereby upon a rotatiorr of the shaft the finger will revolve about the axis of the shaft,

means to rotatably actuate the shaft, and an apertured portion in the wall of the finger communicating with the hollow-interior of the finger, the said shaft and finger being adapted to opera- -tively accommodate therein a yarn strand extending from the interior of the shaft into the interior of the finger through the said apertured portion thereof. g

11. In a circular open top knitting machine, an open-ended needle cylinder,a stand centrally disposed with respect to the axis of the cylinderfor operatively holding vertical striping yarn cones in fixed predetermined positions with respect to the cylinder, feeding means supported on mountings in fixed relation with respect to said stand and adapted to operatively bring the yarn from the corresponding striping yarn cones on said stand 'into operative engagement with the needles on the cylinder, supporting means for the stand containing a member fixedly attached to said stand,

and extending downwardly therefrom, and holding means attached to and extending inwardlyfrom the framework of the machine and enga ing .said member to hold said stand against substantial movement, said holding means being so proportioned as to permit the operative downward passage between said member and said holding means of the tubular fabric knitted on the machine.

r 12.In a circular open-top knitting machine, the combination accordingto claim 11, the said member comprising a plurality of downwardly and outwardly extending arms for operatively recelving thereover said knitted fabric, and the said holding means being provided with a bifurcated terminal straddling at least one of said W arms and sufliciently spaced therefrom to operatively accommodate the downwardly moving tubular fabric.

HARRY AGULNEK. 

